Darby woman accused in $296G food stamp scheme

PHILADELPHIA -- A Darby Borough store owner is accused of running a food stamp scheme that defrauded the government out of about $296,000, according to federal charges announced Thursday by U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger.

Florence Kingsley, 59, was allegedly exchanging food stamp benefits for cash at Aunty Florence's West African Food Market, her small store where she sold spices, fruits, vegetables and some meat.

In one instance, authorities alleged, she purchased $200.23 in food stamp benefits and gave the food stamp recipient $120 in cash, keeping the remaining money.

Authorities said Kingsley processed the bogus transactions through the Electronic Benefit Card terminal in her store.

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After 1998, food stamp coupons were replaced with a plastic card similar in size to a bank credit card, known as an EBT card. Kingsley would commonly provide the customer with cash back in amounts that were about 60 percent of the transaction amount -- and would retain the balance, according to charges.

If convicted, Kingsley faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, mandatory restitution and two years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Floyd J. Miller.